Indian Theatre: Origins, Types & Characteristics

In this lesson, we'll explore the interesting and ancient history of Indian theatre. Learn about the Indian theatrical
art form through the classical, traditional, and modern periods including indigenous and Western cultural
in uences.

The Beginnings of Indian Theatre

The history of theatre in India dates back around 5,000 years and is steeped in culture and
tradition. In early forms, the performances were often narrative including recitation, singing, and
dancing. From Sanskrit dramas to folklore to Western in uences to contemporary works, we will
take a journey through the history and development of the Indian theatre.

The earliest contribution to the Indian theatre, dating between 2000 B.C.E. and the 4th century C.E.,
comes from Bharata Muni, who wrote the 36 books of the Natyashastra. The Natyashastra
describes a theory of theatrical performance based on style and motion, rather than psychology.
According to Bharata, the god Brahma leads him to write the Natyashastra, and Bharata professes
that theatre stems from the gods and teaches about duty. The text encompasses all aspects of
production from theatre architecture to make-up to the performer's movements.

The Natyashastra de nes ten types of plays, and the two primary styles have 5-10 acts. The rst
main type is the Natakas, depicting historical stories of gods, demons, and royalty with sweeping
themes of the divine and mythology. These plays are likened to Aristotelian tragedy, but they end
resolving the cosmic order rather than tragically. The second major genre is the Prakarana,
focusing on invented stories of everyday characters leading their daily lives, not royalty or deities.
Prakarana plays are closely related to Aristotelian comedy.

Rasa, the idea of artistic experience described in the Natyashastra, pervades all Indian art forms
including theatre, writing, ne arts, and dancing. The term describes a positive feeling gained from
art by the audience, yet a key factor for rasa is awareness. A spectator must be conscious of what
he or she's watching, and not be lost in the moment. Rasa is divided into eight categories:

1. Shringara (Romance)

2. Vira (Heroism)

3. Raudra (Anger)

4. Bibhatsa (Disgust)

5. Hasya (Humor)
6. Karuna (Sorrow)

7. Adbhuta (Wonder)

8. Bhayanaka (Fear)

An example of rasa expressed through dance

Later, scholars identify Shanti (Peace) as a ninth rasa, when referring to religious feelings.

The Classical Period

Indian theatre has three speci c periods: the classical period, the traditional period, and the
modern period. Ending in about 1000 C.E., the classical period is dominated by the Natyashastra
and Sanskrit drama. Since plays were based on stories the audience already knew like histories,
folk legends, and epics, physical elements and movement were heavily incorporated into the
dialogue and performance.

Kalidasa is known as the pre-eminent Sanskrit playwright, writing between the third and sixth
centuries C.E. His three major works, including Malavikagnimitra (Malavika and Agnimitra),
Vikramorvashiya (Urvashi Won by Valour), and Abhijnanashakuntala (The Remembrance of
Shakuntala), depict stories of royalty and myth in old-world India. Kalidasa is often considered the
Indian Shakespeare.

However, Bhasa is the oldest Sanskrit dramatist to give us complete plays, writing around the
second century C.E. He has 13 surviving dramas, and the famous, ancient Indian epic poem, the
'Mahabharata', is the source for his rst six one-acts. In addition, Shudraka was a fth or sixth
century playwright known for a Sanskrit comedy, called Mricchakatika (The Little Clay Cart). An
adaptation of this play was produced in 1924 in New York and made into a movie entitled Utsav in
1984.

The Traditional Period

The traditional period from 1000 C.E. to 1700 C.E. introduced regional languages, improvisation,
and a pastoral sensibility to the stage. In addition, the plays were presented verbally rather than
using written scripts. In this period, traditions and stories were passed down orally, and the theatre
re ected this idea. Narrative recitation and singing were also included in the drama of the
traditional period.

The Modern Period

Beginning in the late eighteenth century through the nineteenth century, during the time of the
British consolidation in India and the East India Company, the modern period is marked by the
in uence of Western theatre and the proscenium stage. A proscenium stage is designed with an
arch separating the stage from the audience, and the spectators watch the play's action as if
through a picture frame.

Image of a Proscenium Theater

With the British in India, Western theatre styles including realism and life of the common man were
added to the Indian folklore theatre. A Bengali-speaking theatre company, formed in the 1830's,
veered from the traditional format in favor of a Western approach. Furthermore, a British company
was founded in Calcutta, and in their production of Othello in 1848, Indian actor, Baishnab Charan
Auddy, actually became only the second man of color to portray the character of Othello.

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